1980 to 1981
1980
Parliament decriminalises sex between men
1981
Decriminalisation of sex between men comes into effect
2000 to 2019
2000
‘Gender identity’ added as a protected attribute under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010
‘Sexual orientation’ added as a protected attribute under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010
Victoria Police establishes LGBTI liaison officers to build trust
2001
Same-sex couples get rights equal to heterosexual de facto couples
2005
‘Gay panic’ defence abolished
2008
Assisted reproductive technology becomes legal for female same-sex partners
Same-sex couples can register their relationship as a domestic partnership
2010
The Safe Schools Coalition of Victoria established for LGBTIQ students
2014
Process to enable TGD people to change gender on their driver’s licence
Victoria Police apologises for the 1994 Tasty Nightclub raid
Victoria Police starts the ‘Equality is not the same’ process to build trust
2015
Victorian Government establishes the Equality portfolio
Australia’s first Minister for Equality and Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality (now titled Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities) created
Couples can register their same-sex marriage from another jurisdiction as a domestic relationship in Victoria
Scheme to expunge historical convictions for homosexual activity
Victoria’s 10-year mental health plan focuses on LGBTI communities
2016
The Aboriginal health, wellbeing and safety strategic plan commits to LGBTIQ+ Aboriginal people
LGBT couples can adopt children
Kunghah Brotherboys and Sistergirls weekend retreat for Aboriginal TGD people to share their experiences and knowledge, and address community issues
LGBTIQ Equality Roadshow visits 29 towns in rural and regional Victoria
Premier Daniel Andrews makes a formal apology in Parliament to those convicted under laws that criminalised homosexuality
The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence recommends strengthening the response for people from LGBTIQ+ communities, with later budget investment in LGBTIQ+ specialist family violence services and LGBTIQ+ inclusion in mainstream services
Victorian Pride Centre announced
2017
The Corrections Victoria Commissioner revises requirements detailing prison management of people who are trans, gender diverse or intersex
Department of Premier and Cabinet forum on LGBT inclusion in sport
Justice Health policy includes health care for TGDI prisoners
Marriage equality legalised under Commonwealth law, following Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey
2018
All Victorian Government secondary schools become Safe Schools
Fair Play Code addresses discrimination in sport and recreation
Nanyubak Yapaneyeputj ‘dreaming together’ retreat for Aboriginal LGBTI people
The Victorian Government releases the Everybody matters: inclusion and equity statement 10-year vision for the family violence system
Statewide two-day community of practice meeting of rural and regional LGBTI stakeholders, held in Melbourne to advance rural and regional inclusion
2019
Adults can apply to alter the record of their sex in their Victorian birth registration without the need to be unmarried (end of ‘forced divorce’)
Sexual reassignment surgery is no longer needed to change a birth certificate
First LGBTIQ+ Aboriginal roundtable convened; Koorie Pride Victoria established
Intersex Policy and Resource Project launched
Trans parents can change their sex and name on their child’s birth certificate
Victoria Police apologises for the way police enforced historical laws related to homosexuality
10 rural and regional LGBTIQ+ community of practice meetings held to build rural and regional LGBTIQ+ inclusion
2020 to 2022
2021
Law passed to ban harmful LGBTQ+ change or suppression (conversion) practices
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System final report includes a focus on LGBTIQ+ people
The Victorian Inquiry into Anti-Vilification Protections recommends extending protections to include LGBTIQ+ attributes
Respect Victoria campaign to address LGBTIQ+ family violence launched
Victorian Pride Centre opens
The attribute of sex characteristics is added to the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, protecting against discrimination for intersex Victorians
2022
The Victorian Government adopts its first LGBTIQ+ strategy
Updated